LA/Ontario Airport robust cargo boosted by growth of nearby e-commerce

LA/ONTARIO International Airport's surprisingly robust air cargo figures over the summer holidays has been attributed to early Christmas shopping and a recent boom in warehouse by major e-commerce retailers.

According to California-based real estate Sullivan Consulting Services, the cargo increase of 30 per cent to 38,856 tons in May is partly down to pre-holiday shopping, which usually start in July and August, but it isn't the full story.

"In general, cargo for Ontario could be affected in a positive way because of an improving industrial scene," said consultancy president Mary Sullivan, for an airport such as Ontario which gets shipment from online retailers to the customer in Inland Empire region (metropolitan area of Southern California) with its Target and Walmart warehouse concentration, quicker than through LAX or shipment to Orange County.

The migration of giant online retailers like Amazon.com and big high street retailers such as Kohls and Walmart to the west coast has seen an increase in next-day deliveries by air cargo flights from outfits like UPS based at Ontario and operator of 38 daily flights.

Companies with a distribution-type project are keen to move into the area with its nearby UPS hub and the crossroad I-10 and I-15 interchange.

The global online retailer, Amazon, is on its way to building a fulfilment centre of 92,900 square metres just 14 miles away from Ontario in San Bernardino which should translate into further cargo increases for the airport, said Ms Sullivan.

"I would venture to say the logistics hub that Ontario is, is healthy and improving could definitely be lifting Ontario," she added.